Perpetually tanned, suspiciously unwrinkled former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi began his yearlong mandated community service on Friday. Berlusconi, 77, is serving his sentence for massive tax fraud, handed down by a court last year. He chose community service over house arrest so he could campaign for his Forza Italia party before upcoming European Parliament elections. He avoided jail time because of his age. His community service is at an old people's home in the town of Cesano Boscone.
Some people might celebrate having their four-year jail sentence reduced to four hours a week of community service. Berlusconi has called it "ridiculous." There's some disagreement about what he'll do at the care facility, some of whose residents have Alzheimer's disease. The one-time cruise ship lounge singer says he'll "entertain" his elderly charges; the center's director says Berlusconi will be treated like other assistant, with no "fun or relaxing activities."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
6 elegant Queen Anne Victorian homesFeature Featuring original diamond-glass doors in New York and a registered historic landmark in Arkansas
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress codespeed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last yearspeed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
